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POLICE statements given by two men accused of conspiring to kill Bolton drugs dealer Billy Webb were read out to a jury at Liverpool Crown Court.

Paul Swann, aged 25, and Brian Roper, aged 26, both formerly of Bolton, deny conspiring to murder Mr Webb between May 23 and May 26, 200l.

Mr Webb was shot dead as he slept with his girlfriend in his flat in Whiteledge Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, after two unknown gunmen used a key to sneak in.

It is not alleged that Roper and Swann were the assassins, who have not been caught, but the prosecution claims they were involved and were both in Wigan that night.

A number of police interviews with Swann were read to the jury and, in the second one, he told how Roper had allegedly arranged to meet him in Wigan in the early hours of the fatal morning, but Swann failed to locate him.

The prosecution alleges that mobile phone records showed that both men were moving around the Wigan area that night and were not where they claimed.

Reading the interviews, Dt Con Mike Appleton said Swann claimed he had told police what Roper had told him to say as the legal representative he had present was the same one used by Roper. He was afraid that if he said anything else it would get back to Roper.

It is alleged that Swann picked up the gunman in Manchester the day before the shooting and brought him to Bolton for a meeting so he could be given his final instructions.

Swann agreed he had collected a man from Manchester, whom he described as "a scally", but said he was unsure when it was as he had collected him and sometimes also another man on previous occasions.

Roper and Swann also deny perverting the course of justice by providing false statements to police.

Also in the dock are Sarah Barber, Julie Hardman and Alexander Latimer. Barber, aged 23, of Barn Court; Hardman, aged 21, of Hastings Road, and Latimer, aged 24, of Rodmell Close, Bromley Cross, all Bolton, all deny that charge.

(Proceeding)